Abstract : Since the late 1960s, the process of deindustrialization in Europe and particularly in France has become increasingly widespread. Thus the French industry has lost 500 000 jobs between 2000 and 2006. At the local level, mainly small and medium towns are affected, particularly because of their economic incentives and land. Five small and medium-sized cities were chosen according to their socio profile: Blagnac, Bourges, Gennevilliers, Le Creusot, Valenciennes. These cities have become in between spaces, interface cities, one another questioned about their industry, their urbanity, the relation between production space and urban space and upheavals they are faced to. Parallel or successively, these cities are experiencing changes, sometimes led by policies such as the poles of conversion, the competitiveness cluster, attempts of industrial stimulation or choices leading to the development of services. But whatever the choice made at different levels, such industrial cities are still felt by residents, housing employees, landscape, imaginary. There are also political will to conserve, save heritage, to mark the urban space with suggestive elements of identity and collective memory. Every aspect made, caused by deindustrialization, is one of the avatars of industry in these cities.